John Lennon's former personal assistant has claimed that the former Beatle
became a closet conservative in later life.

According to Fred Seaman, who worked for the musician for two years before his assassination in 1980, Lennon was not a fan of Democratic US President Jimmy Carter, and would have supported his Republican rival Ronald Reagan.

"John, basically, made it very clear that if he were an American he would vote for Reagan because he was really sour on Jimmy Carter," Mr Seaman told film-maker Seth Swirsky in a documentary called "Beatles Stories."

He said Lennon had met Reagan in the 1970s at a sports event, adding: "He did express support for Reagan, which shocked me. I also saw John embark in some really brutal arguments with my uncle, who's an old-time communist. He enjoyed really provoking my uncle."

Mr Seaman accepted that Lennon, a leading figurehead of the peace movement, may have been winding people up.

He said: "Maybe he was being provocative … but it was pretty obvious to me he had moved away from his earlier radicalism.